Marion County Public Health will lead a statewide effort aimed at reducing cancer related disparities in rural Iowa.

Public health received a notice of intent to award from the State of Iowa through the Rural Health Transformation Program for an initiative called Healthy Hometowns: Combat Cancer Prevention and Screening. As the lead contractor for the grant, Marion County Public Health will collaborate with Local Public Health Departments across 87 rural Iowa counties to implement a coordinated, evidence-based approach to cancer prevention, screening, early detection, and access to care.

Through this initiative, Marion County Public Health and its partners will deliver targeted cancer awareness messaging, expand access to screening and early detection services, reduce lung cancer risk through radon testing and mitigation, strengthen the rural radon mitigation workforce, and improve access to cancer-related health services through telehealth and financial assistance. Marion County Public Health Director Linsey Spoelstra tells KNIA/KRLS that she believes public health is a great outlet to address the high cancer rates in Iowa.

“Iowa is number two for new cancer incident rates in the nation which is not a spot we want to hold and Marion County is in the top third within Iowa. This is something that needs to be addressed and I think public health is the place to address it. We have worked for decades with our communities, we know the people, we know their vulnerabilities and we can educate them on why this is so important to have early detection and screening.”

The coordinated effort will establish a sustainable network of trusted local partners working together to improve cancer outcomes and reduce health disparities for rural Iowans.